Mitch Hooper sat down with Luke of Following Strength in a recent interview ahead of the 2025 Arnold Classic. During the conversation, the three-time Arnold Classic champion did not hold back when the subject turned to World’s Strongest Man and the state of strongman business.
On the prestige of WSM, Hooper was clear about where it sits in his mind, even while acknowledging its flaws.
“I don’t think Worlds is the most prestigious because it does have its issues,” he said. Despite that, he made his position plain: “I go around telling people that I’ve won World’s Strongest Man. Not that I’ve won the Arnold three times or the Invitational three times. That is the show to win.”
When asked about the future of the competition at the end of its current contract, Hooper was measured but skeptical. “It’s hard to imagine that it evolves to a place that is anything other than what they’ve done, because the number of promises that I’ve heard, we’re going to do X, Y, and Z, that just don’t happen,” he said.
He described himself as cautiously optimistic about a possible move to a live format or new management, but signaled he was stepping back from pushing for reform. “I think moving forward, I’m going to opt out of trying to be part of the solution and stop trying to crowbar my thoughts in and shout from the rooftops because I think all I’m going to get is a horse voice.”
One issue that clearly frustrates Hooper is ticket availability and fan accessibility. “One of the things about Worlds that drives me sad: tickets still aren’t out and the average strongman fan can’t afford to just spend whatever money on whatever tickets and whatever flights and whatever day and take whatever time off work.”
The sharpest words came when the subject turned to the Giants Live North America show and whether it would return. Hooper’s answer was direct: “No.” Asked why, he said simply, “Because it lost money. It’s what makes the world go around.”
He went further, pointing to a structural sponsorship problem following Brian Shaw’s departure. “With Evolution Athletics tying up the equipment side of sponsorship and Undefined Nutrition tying up the supplement side of sponsorship, you have probably your two biggest areas tied up in Brian’s stuff. So it’s hard for big brands to come on board. I think brands have already seen, this isn’t worth it for us. They haven’t come back and that’s why the show ultimately ran a negative. I don’t see how it is reinvigorated without something substantial change.”
He did offer one dream scenario: “In a perfect world, Brian and Darren team up and Schmo and Giants Live do something in North America.”
